EUROPEAN PATENT CONVENTION - Table of Contents Implementing Regulations to the Convention on the Grant of European Patents PART III - IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS TO PART III OF THE CONVENTION Chapter II - Provisions governing the application Rule 47 - Form and content of the abstract

Rule 47 Form and content of the abstract

Art. 78, 85, 93 R. 50, 66

(1) The abstract shall indicate the title of the invention.

(2) The abstract shall contain a concise summary of the disclosure as contained in the description, the claims and any drawings. The summary shall indicate the technical field to which the invention pertains, and shall be drafted in a manner allowing the clear understanding of the technical problem, the gist of the solution of that problem through the invention, and the principal use or uses of the invention. The abstract shall, where applicable, contain the chemical formula which, among those contained in the application, best characterises the invention. It shall not contain statements on the alleged merits or value of the invention or on speculative applications thereof.

(3) The abstract shall preferably not contain more than one hundred and fifty words.

(4) If the European patent application contains drawings, the applicant shall indicate the figure or, exceptionally, the figures of the drawings which should be published with the abstract. The European Patent Office may decide to publish one or more other figures if it considers that they better characterise the invention. Each essential feature mentioned in the abstract and illustrated by a drawing shall be followed by a reference sign placed in parentheses.

(5) The abstract shall be drafted in such a manner as to constitute an efficient instrument for the purpose of searching in the particular technical field. In particular, it shall make it possible to assess whether consultation of the European patent application itself is necessary.